Amateur information beacon VK6RIB

[Zebedee]

Folks,

The Ham College information beacon VK6RIB is back on air under test at a new location up in the hills. The beacon PC and transmitter are both still the same, but with a J-pole as the antenna. The (re)installation was carried out by Danny VK6ZUK, Heath VK6TWO, Neil VK6BDO and myself.

There's still some work to be done (isn't there always!) until we're completely happy with things, and this will happen over the coming days or weeks as time permits.

Some of the items to be looked at include creating new content for people (especially those visiting VK6 from elsewhere), creating custom playlists so the same information isn't going to air every hour, some tweaks to how the system is driven from the PC end and a few other minor bits.

A couple of people are also working on a side-project, to collect up all the software required to build your own beacon into a single-install package, and of course finish off the documentation. This will then be released by Ham College to other radio groups and interested parties.

Signal reports and suggestions for content gratefully accepted


Cheers,

[meg]

Signal reports and suggestions for content gratefully accepted

About S6 out here, a definite improvement in its readability too.

[robbage]

I was getting S9 in Ballajura when Heath first asked for reports.

[Zebedee]

I was getting S9 in Ballajura when Heath first asked for reports.

Yes, it wasn't on the same antenna at the time, it was just put on another antenna for a quick test run, then Heath made a J-pole and mounted it to the roof of the building and we swapped them over. So whatever the signal is like at the moment, that's more or less how it's going to be "for now" ... Whether it stays that way, we haven't managed to read the tea-leaves on that one accuerately enough yet

[robbage]

OK. 10 over ATM , no audio though.

[Zebedee]

OK. 10 over ATM , no audio though.

Pffffffft, some people want *everything*

The playlist at the moment is only about 39 minutes long, because there's no NewsWest or Helpline files yet. So there's a fair bit of silence at the end of the current playlist before the next one starts on the hour.

Still, 10dB over isn't bad I guess...

[robbage]

Still, 10dB over isn't bad I guess...

That could be due to my superior 2m antenna system

[Zebedee]

Still, 10dB over isn't bad I guess...

That could be due to my superior 2m antenna system

Could be!

I get it nice and clear, about S7-S8 at my QTH.

About to go into the city for dinner, will see what it's like when I'm driving around

[Zaraphrax]

A couple of people are also working on a side-project, to collect up all the software required to build your own beacon into a single-install package, and of course finish off the documentation. This will then be released by Ham College to other radio groups and interested parties.

*waves*.

Hello there.

I'm Ashton. Doug and myself are currently working on building the package which should be available within the next month or so (depends on whether I get my finger out ) for release. If you have any questions or would like to help out, feel free to PM me. I'm not a Ham, however.

[Zebedee]

About to go into the city for dinner, will see what it's like when I'm driving around

There's a few spots where it gets noisy, particularly as I get into the CBD area - but then the same can be said for a lot of things on 2m when pagers start to interfere and you start getting into areas that are affected by buildings etc.

I'm Ashton. Doug and myself are currently working on building the package which should be available within the next month or so (depends on whether I get my finger out ) for release. If you have any questions or would like to help out, feel free to PM me.

Ditto here - what we're looking at doing is providing a "single install" to turn a basic Windows XP computer into a working beacon PC.

I'm not a Ham, however.

....... yet. But we've managed to convince quite a few people who've joined this forum to get a callsign ... you could be next!

[robbage]

What's the current status of VK6RIB? Been off for a while.

[Zebedee]

What's the current status of VK6RIB? Been off for a while.

Funny you should mention it.

The whole lot was taken out of storage on Tuesday night and is with me at the moment. I spent a couple of hours this morning doing a truckload of updates to Windows and the various bits of software. I've also been changing the function of it a little to allow more control over what gets played when.

When RIB was first put into service, it played a single playlist on the hour, every hour. Within a couple of months, we changed it to odd-hour and even-hour schedules, so we could run things like the RAOTC news on one hourly block and the WIA news on the other hourly block.

The new method gives us even finer control and lets us do something different every single hour of the day if we wish, which could be a heap of fun

As for its future - the reason why all these changes are being made is that we have the possibility of a new home south of the river. Just going through the process at the moment and waiting on permission to house the beacon somewhere and then it'll be back!

As they say ... watch this space

[robbage]

Great news. I must have been getting vibes or something.

[VK6ZMS]

Its back on air 145.575 MHz.

[Zebedee]

Its back on air 145.575 MHz.

That it is - anyone who can pick up the audio on that frequency (you don't have to be an amateur radio operator, anyone with a scanner should be able to tune to it), we'd very much like to hear a signal report. Where did you hear it, what was the strength and quality of the audio like?

From the Ham College website:

After an extended period off air, the Ham College Information Beacon VK6RIB is transmitting again from a new home at the Wireless Hill Telecommunications Museum in Ardross on the frequency of 145.575MHz.

This was made possible thanks to the Western Australian VHF Group who have kindly provided space in one of their equipment racks for the radio and computer, and room for an antenna on their tower.

VK6RIB is, as far as we know, the first and only Information Beacon transmitting on amateur frequencies in Australia. The beacon transmits information for the benefit of local hams, shortwave listeners and visitors to the state. The WIA News, NewsWest, RAOTC news are all featured, as is information about local amateur radio clubs, Ham College courses and exam dates, how to get involved in amateur radio and any other relevant information.

Clubs can have their contact information and any news or upcoming meetings or events hosted on the beacon by sending an audio file (preferably in MP3 format) to the content manager, Neil VK6BDO, who can be contacted via the Ham College website.

Ham College is always interested in signal reports from listeners to gauge propagation – please send any reports to the content manager as above. Please include the time, location and any comments.

Many thanks go to Duncan (VK6GHZ) and Doug (VK6DB) for their efforts to date in bringing this project on-line. A special thanks goes to Bob (VK6RX) for providing expert technical advice and the donation of his time to ensure the beacon is fully calibrated to spec.

73s, from Ham College.